New album and concert at B-Flat Berlin (Sept. 3 2017)

This years gig in the "new" B-Flat in Berlin-Mitte will present
new compositions, maybe even Oliver's complete new album (working title "Algorythms & Improvisations") with a mix of jazz, house und electronica.
Oliver Hafke Ahmad (Saxophones), Amr Hammour (Gitarre),
Shota Higashikawa (Bass), Benjamin Strauss (Drums) and maybe some more musicians will perform for you.

In this collaboration of the Estonian accordeonist Jaak Lutsoja and the german-arab saxophonist Oliver Hafke Ahmad from Berlin melt world jazz, new music, tango and electronica.
After several days in the studio working on new material, the first show was performed and recorded on March 13, 2016 at B-Flat Berlin. Jaak
Lutsoja came the long way from Talinn exclusively for this gig.

The concert was a trip from Berlin to Estonia, Serbia
and Syria, because you will hear the Serbian-Syrian Hammour Brothers (Amr and Bilal from Damascus) on guitar and bass. Olivers longyear bandmate Benjamin Strauss, one of
the most versatile percussionists in Berlin, on drums. The video is now online and your can find the link here. More...

First Album "Back & Fourth" Out Now!

Oliver Hafke Ahmad's first album as a leader of his quartet (Thibault Falk - p, Shota Higashikawa - b, Benjamin Strauss - b) will be released on the artist's own label
Urban Grooves Berlin Records.

Jazz journalist Christian Broecking reviewed the album in the Berliner Zeitung and finds the album "successful" and "impressive".
The hip German Jazzmagazine Jazzthing hears "pliant sounds between jazz-rock, soul, funk and pop".

You will find twelve tracks between funk, jazz, pop and electronica all written and arranged by Oliver.
The title of the album Back and Fourth reminds of the unstable life of an artist, the tension between tradition and innovation,
and the backbeat in music as well as the interval fourth, which is used in jazz and one of the songs.

The album has been recorded in Berlin with love for many details and Oliver edited and mixed it afterwards on his own. He is also responsible
for the artwork. Oliver portraited himself and his bandmembers in a visual mixture of concentration and dynamic at the same time, a symbol for the
music the quartet has recorded here. Oliver's debut album summarizes his many experiences in the music business as musician, journalist, promoter, photographer
and now also label owner.

News Archive

In September our ensemble will perform for the first time in the Jazzclub Erfurt. First time with us: Eyal Lovett on Piano and Keyboards (Shota Higashikawa on 7-String-Bass and Benjamin Strauss on Drums). We present songs of our first release "Back & Fourth" and more unreleased material. More informations on the website of Jazzclub Erfurt e.V. (Saturday, September 19 2015, doors open 20:00h, show time 20:30h)

On July 23rd we will perform at the Zig Zag Jazzclub in Berlin-Friedenau (show time 21:00h, Hauptstraße 89, 12159 Berlin near Innsbrucker Platz). We present songs of our first release "Back & Fourth" and more unreleased material
and perform with Amr Hammour (git, Oud, voc) and Bilal Hammour (6-String-Bass), two of the best known young jazz musisicians from Damascus.

The Band will perform for the first time with the Japanese organist Hal Tsuchida, who will also play
the bass with his left hand or his feet on the bass pedal. Together with Thibault on grand piano and electronics we are looking forward for
an exciting new sound experience.
Postmigrant Urban Grooves (Jazz, Funk, Electronics): Oliver Hafke Ahmad (Saxophon), Thibault Falk (Piano, Electronics), Hal Tsuchida (Hammond Organ & Bass Pedal), Benjamin Strauss (Drums). Venue: B-Flat, Rosenthalerstr. 13 in Berlin-Mitte, Dec. 23 2014, Entrance 20h, Start 21h.

Oliver Hafke Ahmad will be interviewed on monday, 26. August 2013 at 6:00 pm during the show of Jacobien Vlasmann on jazzplanet.de. He will
present for the first time music of his recently recorded album with the Jazz Nomads!

Studio Session Finished

In the beginning of 2013 Oliver Hafke Ahmad booked for three days Berlin´s Greve Studio to record fourteen of his own compositions with his quartet.
Oliver Hafke Ahmad on Saxes and flute, Thibault Falk on piano, fender rhodes, wurlitzer and laptop, Shota Higashikawa on electric and double bass and Benjamin Strauss on Drums.